A REGISTRAR may take legal action against the nursing home where his father died after choking on a piece of meat.

George Percival Harris, 90, choked on his beef stew while he was dining with 15 other residents at Chapel House, Puddington, Wirral, on September 2 last year.

Following an inquest hearing in Chester this week, Mr Harris' registrar son Richard, of Surrey, said: 'I am considering legal action. But it is something I am going to have to think about very carefully.' Adele Latchschraumer told Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg she was the only qualif ied nurse supervising the meal when Mr Harris, who suffered senile dementia, died.

She said: 'He had a habit of bolting his food. We really had to observe him. He didn't like to sit down for long periods of time, so he would rush his food and try to get up.'

Mrs Latchschraumer called for assistance when Mr Harris choked on his food at 12.50pm.

She and sister Jean Phillips tried to save Mr Harris. They lay him down in the recovery position and removed food from his mouth.

When he continued to deteriorate, the nurses turned him on his back and began CPR. An oxygen machine and a suction machine, used to sweep debris from the patient's mouth, were also used in their efforts to resuscitate him.

A large chunk of food, about one inch in diameter, was dislodged from his throat.

At 1pm staff called for an ambulance, which arrived 11 minutes later. But paramedics were unable to revive Mr Harris.

A post mortem examination revealed that Mr Harris' windpipe and larynx were blocked by food particles.

The court heard that meals at the home were always served in two conservatories. One was for the more able residents, which is where Mr Harris always ate.

Richard Harris said: 'My father continued to work until shortly before he was admitted to the nursing home.

'He was always very mobile and would drive to Liverpool every day. But his condition deteriorated. I do not think he should have been classed as one of the more able residents.'

He asked Mrs Phillips: 'I know my father had a chest problem, shouldn't he have been seen by the doctor that morning?'

'The doctor was due to visit that afternoon,' said Mrs Phillips. 'Mr Harris was on the list to be seen.

'We didn't cut up his food for him. He was able to do that himself. We might have done if it was a big piece of meat, but he had stew.

'He was assessed when he was admitted to the home and it was felt that he was fit enough to eat with the more able residents.'

Mrs Phillips said she did not know if Mr Harris was subsequently assessed as his condition deteriorated.

Mr Rheinberg said: 'Mr Harris was known for bolting his food. He died as a result of an accident, because choking is not a natural cause of death.'